Quake Aid Offers Political Relief

Within hours of the earthquake that ravaged Mexico City, Chicago`s city government had mobilized various departments to collect money, food and clothing for victims.

And on Sunday, Mayor Harold Washington helped man the phones on an earthquake telethon and urged viewers to call in their pledges for victims in ``our beloved Mexico.``

Though his administration often has been characterized as moving too slowly, his response to the earthquake crisis was quick, deliberate and efficient, leaving critics only to charge that he was playing politics to a constituency that could make the difference in 1987`s mayor`s race.

``It is politics, but it`s good politics because it`s honest,`` said Arturo Vasquez, an early Washington supporter and a deputy commissioner in the Department of Economic Development. ``To the extent you`re looking at a reform mayor, serving areas not addressed before, you`re seeing a mayor busily paying off campaign promises.``

Washington`s reaction to the devastation in Mexico two weeks ago was a marked departure from November, when a gas blast killed more than 300 in Mexico City. That time, it was State Rep. Juan Soliz (D., Chicago), not the mayor, who launched a relief drive.

In the 1983 Democratic mayoral primary, Washington ranked third in Hispanic support, behind incumbent Jane Byrne and Cook County State`s Atty. Richard Daley. But in the election, after Washington promised to bring Hispanics into all levels of city government, a clear majority went with the Democratic nominee over Republican Bernard Epton.

Since the election, the administration has played in Chicago`s Hispanic community to mixed reviews.

Through the first year of his term, the community appeared to grow increasingly disenchanted with Washington. At issue was his failure to produce the Hispanic deputy mayor many in the community had expected. Washington also was criticized for failing to show up at Hispanic organizational banquets and parades.

Though supporters contended that the mayor made several key appointments and began hiring Hispanics in most city departments, some agreed he lacked visibility in the neighborhoods.

By the second year of his term, some observers believed Washington had made more of a commitment to the community. Much of that shift came at the urging of Benjamin Reyes, administrative assistant to the mayor and the top-ranking Hispanic in the administration. The Mayor`s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs also played an important role.

In March Washington issued an executive order ending the city`s practice of asking job and license applicants about their U.S. citizenship and halting cooperation by city agencies with federal immigration authorities.

Immigration and Naturalization Service officials accused the mayor of political grandstanding. But the order was popular in much of the Hispanic community, particularly among Mexicans.

In the debate over an elected school board later in the spring, Hispanics vehemently opposed a proposal that would have reduced their representation on the board from three to either two or one, at a time when their children account for an estimated 22 percent of the public school enrollment.

Washington sided with the Hispanics against an elected school board, even though the plan was sponsored by Ald. Clifford Kelley (20th), one of the mayor`s city council supporters.

In the immigration and school board issues, the Latino Advisory Commission played a key role, providing the administration with opinion surveys taken at several public forums of the Hispanic community.

Early in his administration, the mayor frequently pointed to the commission as an example of how he had opened up government to Hispanics.

The commission has been a springboard for the political and city government careers of several Hispanics. Former members include Soliz; Jesus Garcia, deputy commissioner in the Bureau of Water Services; and Juan Velasquez, deputy commissioner for the Department of Streets and Sanitation.

The commission was created by executive order for a two-year period, but executive director Maria Torres said a two-year extension is being requested because there is still work to be done in sensitizing the city`s departments to Hispanic needs.

A commission study this summer found that eight city departments did not have even one Hispanic employee. Torres points to that type of frankness when critics charge that the commission is just a political arm for Washington.

The commission`s budget will increase slightly for next year, Torres said. This year it was $155,773.

Though the Finance Committee is led by Ald. Edward Burke (14th), a leader of the council`s antiadministration majority bloc, the commission`s budget is expected to be approved. Less than two years from the mayoral and aldermanic elections, members of the majority do not want to alienate the city`s Hispanics.

Though Hispanics make up only about 6 percent of the city`s registered voters, compared with 52 percent for whites and 42 percent for blacks, the ethnic group represents the most potential for growing, according to the Midwest Voter Registration and Education Project, which tracks Hispanic voting patterns.

How much Washington`s popularity has improved in the aftermath of the earthquake is difficult to determine. It could be said, though, that exactly a week before the disaster his popularity was at a low ebb.

A year ago, at the Latino Institute`s annual dinner, Washington was greeted with a standing ovation. At this year`s dinner, on Sept. 12, he received polite applause.